Geez, just get a new one already...
VW Auto Parts Wholesale - Discount VW Parts Prices - 2004 Volkswagen Beetle Door Handle
You're a patient man, my friend, after three
minutes with it like that, I would have started to go crazy... never mind three
months...
You'll have to take the door panel off, but that's easy and intuitive: Take the door pull cover off, and there are screws under there; three more under the door; then I think one behind the inner door handle (I'm going from memory here, so bear with me)... pop off around the edges, pull up a bit to disengage the lip from the window edge, disconnect any power clips you find inside, and lay it aside. Removing the door handle assembly should be easy, remove it and put the new one in, replace everything the way you found it, and go have an adult beverage.
